He Xiaoxing extended a hand and pointed at Chen Chuan’s chest. "You should be able to feel it. Your mutated organs are attached to your original ones, but they can also operate independently."

Chen Chuan nodded. That was true. But for now, this was only possible during routine, low-exertion activities. In combat, they had to function in tandem; it was impossible to rely on one without the other.

He Xiaoxing said, "Your mutated organs have great potential, but your original organs are sufficient for daily needs. During non-combat situations, they remain in a near-dormant state. Although they will gradually grow stronger under your guidance techniques, they won’t proactively perform any functions. Therefore, you need to tell them what you need.

Depending on your needs, the mutated organs will react and develop accordingly, and their future growth will also differ. There is no ’best’ path, only the one most suited to you. However, the basic training is universal. So, for your subsequent training, you must awaken them in a certain way so they can sense your needs at any time."

Chen Chuan mostly understood by this point. He said, "Please instruct me, Teacher He. What do I need to do next?"

He Xiaoxing looked down the mountain. "See that lake?"

Chen Chuan turned his head to look and said, "I see it."

"That is the famous Dan Lake, a tourist attraction. There are thousands of them, big and small, on this plain. The lake water contains a unique mineral that a type of algae called ’Stone Algae’ loves to feed on, which is why the water appears crimson.

However, this type of algae is parasitic. People who come into contact with it can become hosts, which is why some people here often get a red-skin disease. Some of it can also enter the human body through the water source. You’ve probably noticed that most of the drinking water here is transported from other places."

Chen Chuan recalled that this was indeed the case. On his way here, he had seen many people with slightly reddish skin. Food and lodging were very cheap here, but water for daily use was quite expensive.

He Xiaoxing said, "However, for an advanced Fighter, if they’re contaminated by a small amount of this stuff, they can expel it through Breathing Techniques and internal organ regulation.

In the old era, a Sect here discovered the unique properties of the Stone Algae and used this unique environment for auxiliary training. Today’s training begins here."

After speaking, he walked to the side and struck a small bronze bell hanging there. After a short wait, a car drove out from the small town and soon arrived up the mountain. Chang Ba leaned his head out of the driver’s side, waved at the two of them, and said, "Teacher He, I’ll give you a ride."

He Xiaoxing didn’t say much and walked to the car. Chen Chuan got in as well. Once they were both seated, Chang Ba started the car and drove them down the small mountain. After a journey of a little over fifteen minutes, they arrived at the shore of Dan Lake.

Upon arriving, they could see that the outer edges of the lake were light red, while the center was as deep a red as blood. The entire lake was perfectly still, without the slightest ripple, like a piece of jade inlaid in the earth.

The blue sky, white clouds, yellow plains, and crimson lake formed a vibrantly colored painting, creating a rich and vivid visual experience.

The three of them got out of the car. He Xiaoxing instructed Chen Chuan, "Go over there and dip your arm into the lake. Don’t resist no matter what happens. Don’t take it out until I tell you to."

Chen Chuan nodded. He walked along the sandy shore of the lake, rolled up his sleeve, and put his hand into the water. At that exact moment, he had the strange sensation—perhaps an illusion—that the lake had come alive for an instant.

Then he saw, within just a few breaths, a layer of red appearing on the skin of his arm, accompanied by a slight tingling and itching sensation. At the same time, he also saw a faint sign of dematerialization on his Second Self’s arm.

However, he then stopped the Second Self’s damage transfer. He Xiaoxing had instructed him not to resist, so he just needed to let things happen naturally.

About two or three minutes later, He Xiaoxing said, "That’s enough."

Chen Chuan straightened up and saw that his entire forearm had turned a deep red, and the area was gradually expanding. Then, he heard He Xiaoxing’s voice again.

"This is the Stone Algae. Now, use the Mutated Organization inside your body to expel it."

Chen Chuan nodded. He began to regulate his breathing. Under his slow guidance, the Mutated Organization under his skin began to stir, pushing out the tiny foreign bodies that had invaded his system.

After just four or five breaths, the light red on his arm turned grayish-black and formed a wrinkled, curling layer on the surface, like an extra layer of dead skin. He then brushed his hand over it, and it flaked off onto the ground like fine dust.

Chang Ba had been watching his movements closely. Seeing him expel the Stone Algae so easily, his eyes widened in disbelief.

He had done this test before, but it had taken him more than ten minutes. The crucial part was that the expulsion process was unbearably tingly and itchy, almost comparable to the "initiation." Yet Chen Chuan remained calm throughout, as if he didn’t feel a thing. This couldn’t help but leave him deeply impressed.

He Xiaoxing said, "You expelled the foreign bodies with ease just now. You were using the Outer Breathing Guide Technique. Now, I will teach you the Inner Breathing Guide Technique. It facilitates gas exchange with the outside world through the Mutated Organization under your skin and your mutated organs, without needing to go through your mouth and nose."

With that, he began to explain the finer points of this Breathing Technique.

Chang Ba also tried to follow along but soon gave up with a grimace, knowing he would never be able to learn it.

It involved the use of a large amount of Mutated Organization. Only someone with a relatively complete and comprehensive Mutated Organization could perform it fully. If any part was missing, even if one could do it, the effect would be greatly diminished. He had only been able to complete a part of it back then, and even though he was stronger now, nothing had changed.

Chen Chuan practiced the Circulation Technique, so he possessed all the necessary Mutated Organization. Following the method He Xiaoxing taught, he grasped it in just about half an hour.

He Xiaoxing said, "Now go try again. This time, don’t use the Outer Breathing Guide Technique. Use the Inner Breathing Guide Technique you just learned."

Chen Chuan agreed. He walked back to the lake, submerged his arm, and pulled it out after enough time had passed. He then began to try expelling the algae purely by guiding his Mutated Organization with his inner breathing.

This time, it felt many times more difficult. He was already used to outer breathing, and using inner breathing felt like he couldn’t exert any force. The process felt awkward and clumsy.

At first, as his focus deepened, he would even unconsciously start using his outer breathing. Although he stopped as soon as he noticed, this meant he had to divert part of his attention to prevent himself from making the same mistake.

At this point, He Xiaoxing said, "I’ll give you one day to master this. If you can do it by this time tomorrow, we will proceed to the next stage." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Chen Chuan nodded.

He Xiaoxing didn’t say what would happen if he failed. ’But this has to be the most basic requirement. If I can’t even clear the first step, there’s no point in continuing the training.’

However, he wasn’t worried about it. With the Second Self overlap, his physical abilities would double, making this task a breeze. ’But I want to test my own limits first. Only by strengthening myself will the overlap make me even stronger.’

Seeing him quickly become immersed in his training, He Xiaoxing turned and walked away. Chang Ba glanced over and said to Chen Chuan, "Hey, we’re heading back. You take your time. Should I come pick you up tonight?"

Without turning his head, Chen Chuan replied, "No need, thank you. Could you please just get my things for me? I’m staying here tonight."

Chang Ba shrugged. "Suit yourself." After all, it wasn’t far from town, and the wilderness here posed no danger to a Fighter.

He went back to the car, took out the things Chen Chuan had brought, and set them aside. After calling out to him one more time, he got back into the driver’s seat. Once the car started, he asked, "Uncle He, just one day? Can he do it?" ’It took me half a month to do this. Isn’t that too harsh?’

He Xiaoxing said in a deep voice, "For him, one day is more than enough."

Chang Ba just said, "Oh," but he felt a little sour inside.

After the two left, Chen Chuan continued to focus on his practice. But after a while, he still couldn’t find the knack.

He didn’t just stubbornly keep trying. He stopped, walked over to his bag in the distance, took out a tube of Nutrition Paste, and ate it. Then, he carefully reviewed what he was doing wrong before trying again.

He worked until evening. After another attempt, he looked at his pale red arm. Although he had managed to expel some of the algae after trying for so long, he knew it wasn’t enough.

He looked up. The glow of the setting sun filled the sky, and the distant Dan Lake seemed to merge with it, a blaze of dazzling, eye-catching red. It was a sight rarely seen elsewhere.

After gazing for a moment, a thought suddenly struck him. He looked around at the world again.

’That’s it! The whole!’

’Although Teacher He told me which parts of the Mutated Organization to coordinate, that doesn’t mean I can *only* use those parts. He also said that everyone has to find the method that suits them best.’

’The reason I couldn’t do it before was because the participating parts of the Mutated Organization weren’t strong enough. But I practice the Circulation Technique, which means I have a more complete and extensive Mutated Organization than others. So, when I’m guiding my inner breathing, I can have other parts of the Mutated Organization assist and participate as well!’

’And this sense of entirety has been the core concept of my martial arts training ever since the initiation.’

With this breakthrough, he immediately stood up. As he guided his inner breathing, he tried to mobilize his entire body’s Mutated Organization to cooperate.

At first, there wasn’t much change. But after about ten minutes, a fine gray powder began to rustle down at his feet, and his entire arm returned to its original state!

The next day, around six in the morning, Chang Ba drove He Xiaoxing over.

From a distance, he saw Chen Chuan sitting on a rock near the lakeshore, his pant legs rolled up, his feet submerged in the water. He was turned to the side, watching the morning sun rise over the horizon.

Hearing the car arrive, he stood up from the rock. As he rose and walked out of the water onto the sand, they could see clearly that there wasn’t the slightest trace of red on his legs or feet.

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